Government support to help with the cost of living
There are a few different one-off payments you may be able to get depending on your circumstances.
Energy bill support for every household
Every household will get £400 off of their electricity bill as part of the Energy Bills Support Scheme. You don't need to do anything for this payment, and you won't need to pay it back.
It will be added to your energy account over six months starting from October 2022. If you have a prepay meter, it will be added to your meter or you will be given vouchers.
There's more information about how this works on GOV.UK.
Further energy bill support
There is various types of support you can learn more about on GOV.UK, including:
- The Warm Home Discount Scheme, which could get you £140 off of your electricity bill
- Cold Weather Payments, which are paid for extremely low temperatures
- The Winter Fuel Payment, which is available to anyone claiming a state pension
Household Support Fund
The UK government recently announced a further £421 million for local authorities, for the Household Support Fund (HSF).
Southampton HSF aims to support Southampton residents who are on a low income and facing financial hardship.
Find out more and apply for the Southampton HSF.
If you get benefits based on your income
A new round of Cost-of-Living Payments will be paid direct to bank accounts of low-income households from Spring 2023.
If you receive one of the following benefits, payments of up to £900 will be made in three lump sums:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time but the payment schedule is set to offer support throughout the year:
| Date | Payment | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Between Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 May 2023 | First Cost of Living Payment | £301 |
| Summer 2023 | Disability Payment | £150 |
| Autumn 2023 | Second Cost of Living Payment | £300 |
| Winter 2023/4 | Pensioner Payment | £300 |
| Spring 2024 | Third Cost of Living Payment | £299 |
If you get a disability benefit
You'll get £150 paid to you in Summer 2023. Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time.
If you get winter fuel payments
If you get Winter Fuel Payments and you're over State Pension age, you'll get an extra £300 on top of your usual Winter Fuel Payments.
You should start receiving Winter Fuel Payment automatically once you reach State Pension age, but sometimes you may need to apply. You can find out how to apply for Winter Fuel Payment on GOV.UK.
